Texas League Play was created in 2006 to provide an opportunity for TGA member facilities to play against each other in a team match play competition each spring. Regional conferences are formed all across the state and consist of four teams representing four different clubs from the area. A league play conference may be established anywhere in the state where there are four TGA member clubs who are interested in competing against each other in a six match regular season. Each team will host three matches, and will play an away match against each opponent at their course. By utilizing the WHS handicap system, the TGA can provide a fair competition that is enjoyable for a variety of ages and skill levels. League Play matches are a great opportunity for your club and members to participate in a fun and exciting team competition with other clubs in your area.

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Entry & Eligibility Information

Entries Open: January 3, 2024 at 9:00 AM
Entries Close: February 28, 2024 at 9:00 AM
Entry Fee: $600 per team

Entry Procedure: A team wishing to participate in Texas League Play must register and pay the entry fee through Golf Genius. The entry fee must be paid through Golf Genius via credit card. Alternative payments methods will not be accepted.

Club Eligibility: Open to all TGA member clubs who own/operate at least one 18-hole regulation length golf course. The club must have a current and valid USGA Course Rating/Slope issued by the TGA in the last 10 years. The club must follow all TGA membership policies and be in compliance with the USGA club license agreement. Each club must have a certified handicap chairman and have completed the required TGA or USGA handicap seminar training. To ensure your club has met all the necessary requirements, you may call the TGA Membership Services Department.

Player Eligibility: Open to male amateur golfers and club professionals who meet the following:

• Club Membership: Amateur golfers must be full dues paying golf members of the club by the start of the regular season.
• WHS: A player must have an active GHIN number that is listed on the clubs handicap roster.
• Score History: A player must contain at least 10 scores in the previous year’s WHS scoring history.
• Age: A player must be 21 years of age by the date of the match they wish to participate in.

Club Professional Staff Eligibility: A member of the clubs professional staff who is a full-time employee of the club is encouraged to participate. Touring professionals belonging to the club are no eligible to participate. Teaching professionals using the club facilities to strictly teach are not eligible.

Team Captain

Team Captain’s are instrumental in the success of Texas League Play. Each team is required to designate at least one (1) team captain who will serve as the representative for the team in league matches and the other teams within their conference. It is strongly encouraged that each team also have an Assistant Captain to help throughout the season. Captain’s are responsible for match scheduling, match arrangements, and utilizing the Team Portal through Golf Genius.

Captain Quick Links:

New to Texas League Play

How to Host Texas League Play

Golf Genius Team Matches Instructions

How to Update/Adjust Handicap Indexes Before Match

League Play Match Rule Sheet

Team Captain Duties: Captains are instrumental in the success of Texas League Play. Captains are generally responsible for scheduling, fielding a team each week, lineup/pairings, and submitting results. Captains are responsible for setting the regular season schedule. Captain should coordinate with the other clubs in the teams conference before submitting the final schedule to the Texas Golf Association. Schedules must be submitted to the TGA no later than 5:00 PM on March 1, 2024.

Match Arrangements: Captains must communicate with the other clubs in their conference to establish the following:
* Match fees and payment method.
* Specific day of the week and starting time for matches (a standard day of the week and time are preferred).
* Acceptable pace of play at each club for matches.
* Caddies (if required – fees & gratuity policy).
* Gratuity policy for outside service staff.
* Club policies (attire, hats, cell phones, etc.).

For full Team Captain responsibilities, view Section 9: Team Captain Duties in the Texas League Play Policies & Procedures.

Host Club Responsibilities

Tee Times: The host club is responsible for making sure the matches begin at the established starting time. The club should communicate the playing order if different than the pairings sheet.

Paperwork: The host club is responsible for printing and providing the following documents to each play before the matches: Scorecards with handicap strokes, pairings sheet, pace of place guidelines, and Local Rule sheet.

Scoreboard: The host club must provide a scoreboard or scoring area to identify when a match is considered final. Scores and match results posted in the Team Matches Portal are considered to be final and should reflect the outcome of the matches. If the results shown on the Team Match Portal are incorrect, it is the winning team captains responsibility to reach out to the TGA immediately.

Regular Season Information

TGA Staff Contact: Justin Guthrie – Tournament Director

Teams/Conferences: Each team will be comprised of eight (8) players, including one (1) club professional. Conferences will be comprised of four (4) teams all representing different clubs. Teams will establish their own conferences by coordinating with other clubs in the area.

League Schedule: The regular season will be played March 6 – May 12, 2024 and will consist of six matches. All regular season matches (including any make ups or rain outs) must be complete by May 12, 2024. Each conference will set their own schedule by team captain’s & club professional’s coordinating with the other teams. Once the final schedule is set, a conference representative will send the schedule to the TGA for posting to the website. Schedule’s must be submitted by March 1, 2024.

Rules of Play: The USGA and R&A Rules of Golf, Texas League Play Policies & Procedures, Texas League Play Notice to Players, and host club Local Rules will govern play.

Substitutions: Within 24 hours of the match, substitutions must be communicated directly with the opposing club’s team captain or club professional. The TGA must also be made aware of the substitution. A substitution must be made in the League Play module and place in the correct lineup position.

Match Format: A team match will consist of four (4) four-ball matches. One (1) scratch matches and three (3) handicapped matches will be played. Teams and pairings must be arranged by handicap index, low to high. Any player can play in the first match and if a club professional is playing he must play in the first scratch match. The other three (3) handicapped matches will be played off the lowest handicap player in each match. For example, in a match Player A is a 2 handicap, Player B is a 4 handicap, Player C is a 6 handicap, and Player D is a 8 handicap. The match would be played off Player A’s handicap as he is the lowest in the match group. Player A would receive 0 strokes, Player B would receive 2 strokes, Player C 4 strokes and Player D 6 strokes. All handicapped matches will be played off the players current WHS handicap index from the day before the match is scheduled to take place.

Tees: Matches 1 & 2 will be played from the tees which is closest to the target yardage of 6,800 yards. Matches 3 & 4 will be played from the tees which is closest to the target yardage of 6,500 yards. In the scratch match (Match 1) if all players in the match agree, it may be played from a yardage greater than 6,800 yards.

Scoring: All matches will be worth three points each, using a NASSAU point system. One (1) point is awarded for a win on the front 9, one (1) point for the back 9, and one (1) for the overall 18 for a total of 3 match points. Any ties are worth 1.5 points to each side. The team earning 6.5 points or more out of the possible 12 points is the team match winner.

Conference Winners: Conference winners will be decided by the team’s overall regular season record. Points accumulated through he regular season will be used to determine playoff bracket seeding.

Playoffs: Texas League Play Playoffs will take place May 30 – June 2, 2024 at Hyatt Hill Country Golf Club. Conference champions will be invited to compete in the single elimination style playoff event.

Rules Questions/Infraction: The TGA Championship Department will have final say on rules situations should they arise. Questions regarding the Rules or match outcomes must be called into the TGA prior to submitting match results. Issues regarding eligibility will be handled by the TGA on a case-by-case basis.

Forfeits: A forfeit will be scored as a loss to the team forfeiting team and a win to the opponent. Forfeits are detrimental to the overall success of the league. The inability to field a full team, or lack of interest once a team has been eliminated from playoff contention are not acceptable reason to forfeit a match. If a team is granted a forfeited victory, the match will be scored 6.5 to 5.5 in favor of the opponent. Circumstances causing a forfeit will be reviewed by the TGA Championship Committee for possible suspension from future Texas League Play participation.

Cancellation/Withdraws: If a team withdraws from Texas League Play anytime after the regular season schedule has been set, the team will be subject to a Texas League Play suspension and forfeit their entry fee for the current season.

Playoff Information

Date: May 30 – June 2, 2024
Host Club: Hyatt Hill Country Golf Club
Address: 9800 Hyatt Resort Drive, San Antonio, TX 78251
Phone: (210) 520-4040
TGA Staff Contact: Justin Guthrie – Tournament Director

Policies & Procedures

To ensure competitors the best experience during Texas League Play, it is helpful to be knowledgeable of Texas League Play Policies & Procedures.